D. Homme Sport
(2008)

D. Homme is a truly long-suffering fragrance line, it has gone through multiple reformulations and redesigns by three different in-house perfumers, and Homme Sport is no exception. As of 2025, there are four versions of Homme Sport: the original 2008 release, the 2012 reformulation, another one in 2017, and the final 2021 version, which ended up being one of the last fragrances created by a perfumer who has long since left the brand. In stores you’ll only find the latest 2021 reformulation; earlier versions appear only rarely in the hands of collectors. I think it goes without saying that the chances of stumbling across the first 2008 version are close to zero, and the only realistic way to buy it is on eBay from collectors where the starting price for 100 ml begins at around $300.

I was lucky enough to once purchase two original vintage bottles – one of which I eventually had to sell, and the other I gifted to my brother, since he has far warmer memories tied to the very first Homme Sport. So I can say with a clear conscience that I know this composition personally and can objectively evaluate the accuracy of the Homme Sport formulas I’ve come across. This is far from my first attempt to reconstruct that vintage scent. The problem with analyzing old compositions is that the older the fragrance, the less clear the chemical structure of its natural ingredients becomes. In the case of Homme Sport 08, we’re dealing with a large amount of citrus oils which, even with added BHT antioxidant, realistically have no more than five years of life before they begin to lose their brightness, freshness, and sparkle. Over time, they turn sour and reveal the more stable base notes within seconds of spraying. That’s why, when buying vintages, I’d primarily prioritise woody, dense fragrances, which are far more likely to remain well-preserved.

I can confidently say that I’ve arrived at a formula that not only captures the delicate character of the original but also preserves the vibrant, juicy opening of the top notes thanks to the use of fresh citrus oils.

Imagine the late 2000s to early 2010s: a relatively stable world; days when time moved at a slower, familiar pace; perfumery that didn’t try to be as loud or as attention-seeking as it is now, and didn’t try to choke you on the subway on your way to work. Back then, fragrances were transparent, delicate, airy, maybe not as powerful as today’s releases, but they lingered on the skin for a long time, offering a pleasant, unobtrusive scent that lasted until the end of the day. Homme Sport 08 belongs to that era.

So how does it actually smell like? The official pyramid only highlights the key colors the perfumer used, but what matters is the canvas he painted on. A transparent musky base combining the tart freshness of vetiver, the softness of sandalwood, and the powdery woodiness of cedar shavings creates the foundation for sparkling ginger and a citrus accord I can only describe as “yellow-neon lemon” with its brightness and neon quality further boosted by pink pepper and elemi. The era-typical Dihydromyrcenol and Calone provide a monstrously long-lasting freshness that pierces through the vertical structure of the composition from the top notes all the way down to the base.

They simply don’t make fragrances like this anymore. I’m convinced that French perfumery has long taken a direction opposite to the style that D. Homme Sport 2008 and A. Code Sport 2011 once represented.

Olfactory profile: citrus, spicy, herbal, aquatic, woody, musky.
Concentration: eau de toilette.